Justin Verlander, mistakes do in Yankees in loss to Astros

Yankees bats quieted in 5-1 loss to Astros on Memorial Day matinee at Yankee Stadium.

NEW YORK — Memorial Day at Yankee Stadium was a reminder that the Yankees might have won last year’s World Series instead of losing in the ALCS had managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner given GM Brian Cashman the green light to add Justin Verlander’s salary to the payroll.

This also was a reminder that the Houston Astros won it all last year and they’re probably still the team to beat this year because they have a tremendous starting rotation that’s led by Verlander.

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Verlander has been about as great as you can get since being traded by the Detroit Tigers for prospects last Aug. 31 and he was sensational again on this holiday Monday.

In the first of three this week between two AL superpowers, the Yankees played sloppy baseball, received a mediocre start from rookie Domingo German and were manhandled by Verlander in a 5-1 Astros victory.

Verlander (7-2) allowed just five hits over 6 2/3 innings, the Yankees’ only run coming on a leadoff homer in the seventh by Greg Bird.

The Astros had control of the game by the second inning when rookie first baseman J.D. Davis homered with two on for a 3-0 lead.

The Houston rally began with shortstop Didi Gregorius booting a grounder hit by Yuli Gurriel, who bizarrely was awarded an infield single. Evan Gattis walked with one out, then Davis hit a pop-fly homer to left on a 3-1 fastball that was down the middle.

The Astros took advantage of an error by rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres to score an unearned run in the fourth that made it a 4-0 ballgame.

With Gurriel again hitting, Torres fielded a routine chopper behind second base, then with all kinds of time, made a throw to first that pulled Bird off the bag.

Marwin Gonzalez followed with a bloop single, then Gattis doubled to left to drive in Gurriel.

Besides his error, Torres made a mental mistake in the second when he was picked off second base by Verlander with two on and two out.

German (0-3) allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Verlander was working on a three-hit shutout and leading 4-0 until the Yankees seventh when he gave up a leadoff homer to Bird, who played his third game in three days since returning from March ankle surgery.

Gregorius’ two-out single in the seventh chased Verlander with his pitch count at 113.

On May 1 in Houston, Verlander pitched a three-hitter and struck out 14 over eight shutout innings facing the Yankees, who teed off on the Astros bullpen and won 4-0.

With Monday’s outing, Verlander’s season AL best ERA slightly climbed from 1.08 to 1.11.

With one of baseball’s best and deepest farm systems, the Yankees probably could have traded last summer for Verlander, but money was an issue. The six-time All-Star and 2011 AL MVP/Cy Young winner made $28 million last year, he’s making $28 million this year and he has a $22 million vesting option for 2019.

The Yankees are under orders from Steinbrenner to keep this year’s payroll under the $197 million luxury tax threshold so that their luxury-tax clock can be reset.

Since joining Houston, Verlander is 12-2 with a 1.09 ERA in 17 regular-season starts plus 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA in the postseason, including 2-0 with an 0.56 in an ALCS MVP performance against the Yankees.

NOTABLE

— The Yankees fell two games back in the AL East, as first place Boston beat Toronto 8-3 at Fenway Park.

— Gregorius had a 2-for-3 afternoon to record his first multi-hit game since May 3. He entered the game 4 for 67 in his last 16 games.

— Torres moved up from his usual No. 9 spot to hit fifth and was 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.

— USA chants briefly broke out following a 3 p.m. moment of silence to remember servicemen lost in battle.

— Designated hitter/outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was out of the starting lineup for the second time this season and first since May 7. “I just felt like it was a good day to give him a day in this stretch of games, 14 games in 13 days,” manager Aaron Boone said.

— Utility infielder Ronald Torreyes still hasn’t reported to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre two days after his surprise option on Saturday. He still had a locker at Yankee Stadium that is filled with his uniforms, gloves and spikes two days after he was optioned to Triple-A, which is unusual. The speculation is Torreyes will be gone just 10 days, the minimum required following a demotion (unless he returns earlier as an injury replacement).

LOOKING AHEAD

Tuesday: Houston Astros at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., WPIX/MLB Network. RHP Charlie Morton (7-0, 2.04) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.55).

Wednesday: Houston Astros at Yankees, 6:35 p.m., YES/ESPN. Dallas Keuchel (3-6, 3.39) vs. RHP Luis Severino (7-1, 2.28.

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.